United Telephone Backs Lower Rates For Long-distance

United Telephone of Florida is joining other local companies in proposing to reduce rates charged to long-distance companies for using local telephone networks.

If approved by the Federal Communications Commission, the proposals are expected to cut customers' long-distance bills.

''Under a plan submitted to the FCC, local telephone companies, including United Telephone of Florida, would reduce charges to long-distance companies Jan. 1,'' said Brant Bittner, United Telephone's community relations manager. He said the changes would cut the rates long-distance companies pay local companies to use their telephone lines by about a penny a minute.

Industry experts say, AT&T Communications, the largest long-distance company, would save $59 million for each 10th of a cent cutback in the rate. The changes would lead to savings to AT&T of nearly $600 million, Bittner said.

In the past few years, AT&T's interstate long-distance rates have dropped by about 25 percent from these type of changes, Bittner said.